Shoe-capping last



E. SMILEY.

SHOE CAPPING LAST.

APPLICATION HEEp SEPT 15, 1920.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

INVENTOR. Zwrjmz PATENT OFFICE.

SMILEY, 0F MORAVIA, IOWA.

SHOE-GAIPING LAST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application filed September 15, 1920. Serial No. 410,374.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that ELMER SMILEY, a citizen ofthe: United States; residing at Moravia,in the county of Appanoose andState of Iowa,-has-invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Capping Lasts, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to shoe capping lasts and has for its object toprovide a device of this character which snugly fits the toe of the shoeto permit the efiicient application of a cap.

Another object is to provide a capping last of this characterwherein'theshoe is forced over the toe or last block and held rigiddur-.

ing the capping operation.

Another obj ect is to provide a capping last of this character whereinthe heel .block'is provided with an extension which extends outwardlyand beyond the heel surface of the block to receive a toe block, thesole engaging surface of the toe block being offset with respect to theheel engaging surface of the heel block.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a capping last ofthis character including a heel block having an extension, the end ofsaid extension being provided with an angularly disposed tongue andadapted to support a toe block, pressure on the toe block causing thesame to be forced into engagement with the extension through the mediumof the angular tongue.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter moreparticularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view partly in elevationand partly in section f a shoe capping last constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of my invention, a shoe being diagrammaticallyindicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the last, and

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the heel block.

' Referring to the drawings, A designates the standard of a shoesupporting jack, the end B of said standard being arranged to receiveshoe form blocks. The standard is also provided with a lever C includinga tooth D adapted to engage the racks E carried by the standard A, aslot F being formed in the standard for the reception of thejack orholding strap G. This strap is connected to the handle and extends onboth sidesof the standard A. The above structure forms no part of myinvention.

Inorder to properly support a shoe or the like, during the cappingoperation and prevent movement of the shoe, I provide a novel cappinglast com'prisinga heel block 5 having one face thereof formed into aheel'engaging surface 6. The opposite face 7 is provided with a recess 8adapted to receive the end portion B of the shoejack to properly supportthe block. The heel block 5 isprovided with an extension 9 whichprojects outwardly from one end portion thercof, and beyond the heelengaging surface 6. The end 10 of the extension has a tongue 11 disposedtherein, said tongue extending in angular relation to the end 10, thepurpose of which will be hereinafter described.

To complete the shoe form, I provide a toe or last block 12. Any numberof these blocks may be used in connection with the heel block 5, theblocks may be formed into various shapes according to the shapeof thetoe of the shoe. Each of the last blocks has a curved sole engagingsurface 13, the portion of said block beneath the surface 13 beingslotted as at 14 so as to render the block light. The ends of the slots14, terminate adjacent the end 15 of the block. This end of the block isconstructed to coincide with the end 10 of the extension, and has anangularly disposed socket 16 formed therein. This socket is intended toreceive the tongue 11 of the extension.

It will be noted that when the toe or last block 12 is applied to theextension that the surface 13 of the toe block is disposed above thesurface 6 of the heel block. In addition to this, the ends 10 and 15 aredisposed on an incline with respect to the standard A, which serves toproperly position the toe block on the heel block. Furthermore, thesocket 16 and tongue 11 extend in angular relation with respect to thestandard A so that downward pressure on the toe block will cause theends 10 and 15 to be drawn into firm engagement with each other. Thiseliminates the necessity of using screws or like fastening means as itis impossible for the toe block to become disengaged from the heel blockunless the same is moved upwardly by the operator so as to permit thetongue 11 to disengage the socket 16. The

greater the pressure on the surface 13, the

tighter the blocks will be drawn together.

In use, the heel block 5 is disposed on the end of the standard A andthe desired form of toe block applied to the extension 9. The

shoe is then placed on the form and the heel or jack strap G extendedover the shoe and adjusted. The lever D is then moved downwardly so asto move'the shoe toward the heel block. As the surface 13 of the toeblock is disposed above or. in offset relation to the surface 6 of theheel block, downward movement of the strap will force the heel portionof the shoe toward and into engage:

ment with the heel surface 6 thereby forcing the toe or last block 12snugly'into the toe of the shoe. In view of the novel position of theextension 9, the heel portion of the block does not interfere with thesnug engagement of the toe block with the toe ofthe shoe. In this way,the shoe is held in a rigid position on the standard so that the cappingoperation may be efficiently and quickly performed. It is of course,obvious that if'the toe block was disposed in aliinement with the heelblock or in other words, if the surface 13 and surface 6 were disposedin the same plane, it would be difiicult to force the toe block 12snugly into engagement with the toe of the shoe.- Another importantfeature is that this capping last may beused in connection with allforms of shoe supporting jacks and is capable of capping any style ofshoe as the toe or last block 12 may be made in various shapes andfirmly held. in position by means of the angular tongue and socket.

What is claimed is V 1. A shoe capping last comprising a heel blockhaving an extension, said extension 40 projecting beyond and obliquelywith respect to the heel engaging surface of the heel block, a tonguedisposed in the end face of the extension and extending toward the soleengaging surface of the extension, and a toe block having an angularlydisposed socket adapted to receive the tongue, whereby pres sure uponthe sole engaging surface of the toe block will tend to move the toeblock toward the extension. r

2'. A device of the character described comprising a heel block, aninstep extension projecting from the heel block beyond the heel surfacethereof, said extension having a flat end face, a tongue having oneendembedded in the end face of the extension and extending in angularrelation to and away from said end face, and a toe block having a fiatend face and an angularly disposed socket, said tongue and socketgradually urging the end faces of the extension and toe block intobinding engagement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ELMER SMILEY.

